Assistant Professor Pace University New York, New York, United States
Background/Question/Methods
Urban waterfronts are experiencing a renaissance, as it is estimated that by 2030 more than 60 percent of the world's population will live in cities, the majority of which are in coastal or riparian regions. Our research explores both the ecosystem services (ES), or benefits to human wellbeing, that urban waterfronts provide and the potential disservices (DS) that can be associated with waterfront use. Benefits can include both biophysical and social benefits, but exposure to pathogens due to polluted water or social conflict (e.g., gentrification) due to competing interests are also potential outcomes. Both ES and DS may be especially pronounced for communities experiencing high levels of economic deprivation, which is a common demographic associated with urban waterfronts in general and the New York City (NYC) waterfront in particular. We used a mixed-methods approach to conduct research at two NYC waterfront locations and assess how ES and DS are experienced by different waterfront users and spatiotemporally distributed in relation to social, cultural, and ecological factors. We used a social assessment methodology that included quantitative counts of human activities along the waterfront site, observation of signs of human use, and interviews with waterfront users.
Results/Conclusions
Our findings demonstrate a wide range of uses and perceptions as well as deep place attachments held by local users, which give insight into understanding how the meanings associated with these blue spaces have changed over time. Both waterways were heavily utilized by local residents, who reported cultural ES including recreation, socializing, and even spiritual and religious associations. Interestingly, despite major pollution issues, fishing was the third most documented activity at one of our research sites, where we found that perceptions of water quality, rather than water quality as measured by pathogen load, were correlated with one’s willingness to eat fish. In addition, as with coastal cities across the United States, several large infrastructure projects are underway at these waterfront sites, including a ferry landing and a privately-owned boathouse. While these projects may increase opportunities for some residents to access these waterfront spaces, many local users perceived them as "disrupting" existing social-ecological connections and values, and thus sought to resist these projects. This research contributes to a growing body of knowledge on uses and stewardship associated with urban waterfronts, thus informing how to improve current environmental governance strategies in coastal cities.
